HC Deb 08 December 1947 vol 445 cc117-8W
3. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many entry and exit visas, shown separately, have been granted by his Department since V.E. Day to wives and children, of Soviet citizens, not enjoying diplomatic status but employed or connected with Societ missions in this country; and how many such visas have been refused.

Mr. McNeil

The number of entry visas granted to the non-diplomatic staff of the Soviet Embassy since V.E. Day is 55, of which number 21 were granted to wives. Visas were refused to one man and his wife. During the same period visas were also granted to 67 members of the Soviet Trade Delegation, 15 of which were granted to wives. One application for a visa was refused. Exit visas have not been required since 30th September, 1945. Statistics of visas granted between V.E. Day and 30th September, 1945, to Soviet citizens of the categories in which the hon. Member is interested, are not available, but I understand that no exit visas were refused.

4. Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many entry and exit visas shown separately have the Soviet Government granted to wives and children, of British citizens; not enjoying diplomatic status, but connected with British missions in the Soviet Union; and how many such visas have been refused by the Soviet authorities.

Mr. McNeil

Since V.E. Day five entry visas have been granted to wives of Embassy staff not having diplomatic status, and none has been refused. In addition, one was granted to a Soviet-born wife, returning to the Soviet Union. One exit visa was issued to the wife of an Embassy employee not having diplomatic status and none was refused. Exit visas were granted to 12 Soviet-born wives of Service and Embassy personnel and 14 were refused.

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